When the Tigers call, there can't be any half measures
FOR all Gloucester's winning run will have done for confidence at Kingsholm, they still haven't managed an 80-minute performance under Nigel Davies.
Whether it be a fight-back against Bath, or having to hold on against Bordeaux, the Cherry and Whites have yet to maintain their intensity for two halves of rugby and that will be a concern with Leicester coming to town this weekend.
It was a great start against the visiting Frenchmen, but it could have been so much different had the Top 14 side not lacked a bit of cutting edge in the second half.
Leicester are far more likely to take any chances that come their way, which means there is a bit of pressure on Gloucester as the Premiership returns to action.
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That said, you can't knock two wins out of two, including one away in France, as a return in the Amlin Cup so far.
Gloucester's away wins have been the most encouraging aspect of this season so far, and although they have generally come against struggling sides, Davies will be delighted with the grit and resolve the players have shown outside Kingsholm.
It's great to see Charlie Sharples getting on the scoresheet again. Tries are what he is all about and while he has still had some good games without crossing the whitewash, scoring is central to his game and confidence so long may the tries keep coming.
I was disappointed to see a few kicks from Billy Twelvetrees go begging, but it will probably take him a while to master the Kingsholm conditions, particularly if Freddie Burns is taking the bulk of the shots at goal.
Since the new stand was built, the Kingsholm wind has become difficult to predict and it can often knock you off your rhythm.
Twelvetrees will do well to take plenty of practice at the ground and not up at Hartpury, where clearly the conditions are different.
Rob Cook is also yet to get the chance to kick regularly, so Gloucester are in a position of strength.
Overall you can only be encouraged. Gloucester are putting in the type of performances that make you feel it could all click into place at any moment.
Comments
by Conrad_Selby
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 8:31AM
“The away wins may have been against struggling sides but, for the past few seasons, those struggling sides would have beaten us.”